FRIENDLY VISITOR.

No. 236.]

MAY, 1838.

[VOL. 20.

OLD ALICE GILBERT.

Her

Alice Gilbert was born March 16th, 1751. employment, when very young, was tending sheep. She married Thomas Gilbert, and had four children; and though in very poor circumstances, she took care of a little orphan, whose parents died, and always treated her as her own child. After her conversion, she suffered many troubles, and much persecution from her family, none of whom, at that time, feared God. She has often mentioned her dread of meeting her sister Jowett, (who afterwards became a most devout Christian) but who could not resist upbraiding her in the street, and she used to run down any court if she saw her coming. But in speaking of this time of trial, she said, "I never came out of a hot furnace without leaving some dross behind; for my Father is a tender and kind Father, who will never suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear."

She was not quite forty years old when first she found the Lord, and was at the time greatly distressed, her husband being very ill. When going out to fetch some water, the verse from the twelfth chapter of the first of Corinthians was brought to her mind: "My grace is sufficient for thee; and my strength made perfect in thy weakness." She immediately replied," I thank thee, O Lord; thy strength is sufficient for me." The same evening a shilling was brought her unexpectedly, which she looked upon as coming immediately from God himself, and her heart was overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness.

About this time, her kind minister, Mr. Spencer, visited her, and found her sitting over the fire crying. He enquired, "What is the matter, Gilbert?" She replied, "I cannot help crying, because I cannot love my Saviour better." He smiled, and said, "Tell me,

E

Gilbert, who can ?" "Thank you, sir; my mind is now more happy."

She had the happiness of seeing all her relatives, one by one, brought to know the Lord; and looked forward with much pleasure to seeing her dear mother in heaven, her last husband, and all her children; Jowett and his wife also.

She never ate any thing without first thanking the Lord; and it was delightful to see her after she had partaken of the holy Communion, for she appeared so strengthened by the spiritual food, as to require no other nourishment.

Nov. 24th. Called and sat with dear Gilbert. Found her very ill. On being asked whether it would not be better for some one to sleep in the house, and for her not to remain entirely alone, she replied, "I want no company; the Lord is my company. At night I feel him such especially, and I know myself to be surrounded by ministering spirits; and, if you will believe me, I often think I hear the harpers, harping on their harps when all is still, and I feel alone with God."

Her shepherd, Mr. Gell, had been to see her, and had sat some time and prayed with her. He left her five shillings; but she said, "I did not want it, his presence was enough for me; my cup truly runneth over with mercies and blessings." Then, speaking of the troubled state of the country, she said, "But Christians have nothing to fear; it is God that sends down these evils upon those that he wishes to punish."

Dec. 3. In speaking of Christians, she said that her mother always preferred walking Christians to talking Christians.

A gentleman from one of the Committees had called at her house, and asked whether she wanted a blanket, coals, or any thing of that kind; and enquired whether she received any thing from the parish. "Yes," she said, "I receive two shillings, which pays my rent, and the Lord sends the rest."

Her daughter Mary married a young man named Hunter, which was often a source of sorrow to Mrs,

Gilbert, as he did not join in prayer, or enjoy other means of grace. He worked for an upholsterer, and there being little work in Derby, he went to Birmingham, where he obtained work, but caught a severe cold, which ended in consumption. But even in this affliction she had cause for thankfulness; for he now learned to love the privileges he had before neglected, and deeply regretted that he had not been sooner a partaker of them. For some time his wife had been in a most distressing state of bodily weakness, having lost the use of her limbs from rheumatic fever. The use of her hands was, however, spared, and she kept a little day school for their support.

At this time Gilbert often knew the want of many of the necessaries of life; but her faith and entire reliance upon her God and Saviour were shewn in the most delightful manner, affording many instructive lessons to those who visited her. In her daughter Mary's last illness, when she was totally unable to help herself, it was doubly beautiful to see how her mother, then 80 years of age, was strengthened to assist her; and she died most happily.

Gilbert was now left quite alone, but the orphan whom she had brought up remembered with gratitude the kindness she had received; and, though married, washed for her, &c.

She was removed from Kensington to be nearer her friends; and it is believed she has been the happy instrument of bringing many to a knowledge of God their Saviour. The young were particularly attached to her; and many took pleasure in observing her cheerful, unaffected piety. She lived a life of joy and peace in believing, which it was delightful and very instructive to witness. She abounded in short, pious ejaculations.

When told, by a friend, of the great change which was about to take place in the poor laws, and that no money was to be given to those who were not in the house, she exclaimed, with peculiar energy, "Ah, love! now I see it all. I have often wondered why such a

cumberer of the ground was spared so long to be a burden to her kind friends, and now it is all clear; it is that I may go to the workhouse, and tell all the poor creatures there what the Lord has done for my soul, and perhaps he may make me a blessing to some. When she became too infirm to walk to St. John's, her friends finding a house to be let close by, removed her there; and so great was her joy, that she exclaimed, "Oh! how good the Lord is; how can I thank him? he has taken me to paradise before he removes me to heaven."

When her old friend and companion, Mrs. Saunders, died, and it was not found easy to replace her loss, and a friend found her sitting quite alone, and so weak as hardly to be able to help herself, she said, "Oh! do not fret, love; my blessed Saviour is with me, and I am so happy with him. My niece makes my fire in the morning, and puts on the kettle; and when I want any thing more than I can do for myself, the Lord sends me a kind friend; and I know, that sooner than a child of God should want for any thing, he would send the ravens from heaven to feed them, as he did to the prophet Elijah." And the last few years of her life were a striking fulfilment of all the Lord's promises, in the various kind friends and abundant mercies he so largely vouchsafed to this aged Christian.

Her hands were much crippled, and she often remarked, when looking at them, "Oh! what joy to think that this shrivelled flesh will ever be like unto my Saviour's flesh;" and then would clasp them with the greatest delight. One day being in great pain, she was asked, "Does your pain prevent you from thinking ?" She replied, "Oh, no, dear! I am looking forward, not thinking of my pain, that is but for a moment, but I am looking to eternity."

On one occasion, her daughter Mary greatly desired to go to the races, with another young woman, contrary to the wish of her mother; who, after pressing her most warmly, and exhorting her not to go, went upstairs and prayed. In about half an hour, Gilbert

came down, and on finding her daughter returned, she said, "Ah! Mary, are the races over already?" "No, mother; but you were right, I ought not to have gone; and when I was there, every one, I thought, looked at me, as if I had no business there." She never afterwards went to the races, or any other vanity.

At another time, two of Gilbert's other daughters set their minds on going to the races, but their mother remonstrated with them, and prayed for them. They dressed themselves, and she then said, "I have entreated you not to go, and have prayed for you; I can do no more, but will continue in earnest prayer." She then went to a little prayer-meeting, and her daughters set off for the races. But before they had proceeded far, a neighbour invited them into her house, and telling them they could better employ their time, she persuaded them to allow her to teach them to chevin. They did so; and, with the first shilling they earned at their new employment, they bought their mother a pair of pattens, and then returned home.

For

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

ye have the poor with you always; and, whensoever ye will, ye may do them good but me ye have not always.-MARK XIV. 7.

MR. EDITOR, The above text having been brought home to my mind lately, as applicable to my own circumstances, if you think that the way in which I have been led to view it may prove a comfort or encouragement to your readers, you can insert my paper in one of your useful publications.

For twenty years or more I had the charge of a large and interesting Sunday school. In my labours there, I trust I felt some little desire for the spiritual good of the dear children, though, on sifting my motives,,I too often found that regularity of attendance, and lessons well repeated, were more sought after by me than the teaching of the Spirit upon what was learnt; so truly does sin mix with all we take in hand! and we are taught that the Lord's own work may be performed in the same "business-like" method as that in which we attend to our worldly callings. Yet this Sunday school was my delight, and many a Sabbath morning have I risen early to attend it, when the weather and a delicate state of health